Reaching a Hurting World Through Videos That People Can Relate To

By Paula Pinto

Life which consists of both good and bad events, some that can cause people to question their faith and for others possibly hinder their chances of ever believing in God at all seems to be the driving force that has lead Juan Camacho Jr. and a team of youth from his church to use a video ministry to lead people to Jesus Christ.

Juan Camacho Jr. a husband to Beth Camacho and the father of two young children, also serves as a volunteer youth leader for “Youth on the Rock,” at the Bucyrus Free Will Baptist Church in Bucyrus, Ohio. Since joining the group four years ago, Camacho has been blessed to see the group grow and through their expansion they’ve worked to create a video ministry that has reached over 40,000 people for Christ. “Our videos and youth group have been featured on websites such as the nationally aired KLove, Youthworker.com, Breaking Christian News, and various blogs,” said Camacho.

Their desire to reach a hurting world through creativity and story lines that many can relate to has also gained them media attention in the Canadian magazine called “In-Control,” and Camacho is thankful that media has brought attention to these videos which will help to lead people to Christ.

“We are not in this to become famous, but to lift up our Lord and give Him the glory,” Juan said. The media has helped to get their message out and to let people know about their ministry.

After listening to a song on KLove one day by singer and song writer Matt Maher, Juan explained that God began to show him a vision of how the video “Alive Again” should take place. “The more I heard it, the more clips God gave me,” Juan said.

In, Alive Again, Camacho is portrayed as the “modern day Job,” and as the video unfolds you can see the relation of a Job type of story in today’s society.  Featured in the video is Juan’s wife, Beth, son, Cole, and daughter, Elaina. Sadly, and array of events in the video leads to a life of solace, where his family is deceased and Camacho is left alone. What many would have once considered a “good life” is lost yet Camacho holds on for dear life to the faith he has in his heart.

The only visible memory that Camacho has left of his family was a note his wife had written him which reads “God had always blessed us. Keep the Faith.” With everything else gone, including the home in which they once lived, the note serves as a reminder for Camacho, so mush so that it is the last thing that Camacho has in his hands before he is reunited with his family following his own death.

When asked whether or not it is expensive to develop such a video, Juan said that it catches people by surprise to learn that he does not use expensive equipment to make the videos. “I simply use a small digital camera and set it to record in movie mode. Then I use Windows Movie Maker that came free with my Dell computer. We are a Youth group with a next to nothing budget and we use the small resources that God has given us to do big things. If you have a willing heart to do something for the Lord he will use you no matter if you are poor or rich,” Juan said.

The video was made in a three week span at the beginning of February 2010. With many circumstances to battle such as poor weather conditions throughout the shoot, patience was a much needed virtue to bring it to completion. Parts of the story were shot in the snow and then the cast would have to wait for the snow to melt to get the time frame to coincide with the time-line in the video.

Most of the video was taken in Upper Sandusky, Ohio and a majority of it was filmed right on Juan’s property where an old, run down barn across the road from his home, became a perfect setting. As for the scenes that portray Heaven, that footage was shot at President Harding’s Memorial in Marion Ohio. “It was the closest location we could come to finding a mansion that may be in Heaven,” Juan said.

With the visions that God gave Juan, he then had a simple thought process of how it would be made and what it should look like. “Just following what God showed us, it was amazing how everything fell in place,” Juan said.

The message behind this video “Alive Again,” as with other videos that the case puts together, is to get the message of Jesus Christ out to the world. They have received many comments from viewers based on these videos and how it has effected them as well as what it means to them.

 “The beauty of the Gospel is that it speaks to people in different and interesting ways. With "Alive Again" it spoke to people that no matter what happens in life if we keep faith in Christ then we have a comfort in knowing things will be ok. Some people said that it made them cherish to the people that they have in their lives now because we don't know what tomorrow hold in store. The video even reminded some that texting while driving is very dangerous,” Juan said.

When asked if he could sum up from all the comments on what this video has given it’s viewers, Juan said, “hope.”  Reason being, the array of topics that are portrayed in other videos they’ve made are alcohol abuse, divorce, being judgmental, and coming to Christ who forgave us of our sins. “Some of our videos are patriotic as well. We hope to continue making different messages and touching peoples lives through this ministry that God has blessed us with. While we are here on earth we will strive to make a difference for Jesus Christ, Juan said.

To see some of the many videos that Youth Rock has made and are featured on the internet, especially the most recent, “Alive Again,” you can view them at: www.youtube.com/youthontherock1

Provided by “Youth on the Rock,”

ChristianNewsToday.com - International Christian News is a free online publication serving the body of Christ with international Christian news coverage & Christian information from around the world.  Our content is free and supported by Christians, Ministries and Christian companies who advertise with us and use CNTNewswire.com Press Release Distribution Services.  

The view points expressed in ChristianNewsToday.com are those of their respected writers and are not necessarily held by the advertisers, publishers, editors, or staff members associated with ChristianNewsToday.com. 

All material and content published on ChristianNewsToday.com are protected by International and Federal copyrighted laws.